Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, currently serving a 25-year sentence for fraud, has once again publicly praised US President Donald Trump, fueling speculation that he hopes to receive a pardon.
Most recently, Bankman-Fried used prison-approved communications through an agent to publish an article on X in which she supported Trump’s decision to launch an attack on Iran. He argued that the move was necessary to deal with nuclear risks and claimed that the action significantly weakened Iran’s military capabilities.
The comments are the latest in a series of statements in support of the US president. In an earlier post, he noted that natural gas prices were lower under Trump than they were under Biden and in other countries. He also credited Trump with “saving” the SEC by replacing former chairman Gary Gensler with Paul Atkins, arguing that the shift eased pressure on cryptocurrency companies and reduced interagency conflicts.
That tone raises concerns given Bankman-Fried’s legal stance. Presidential pardons have historically been available for financial crimes, and Trump has shown a willingness to grant clemency in high-profile cases. Ross Ulbricht, who ran a digital black market platform called Silk Road, was sentenced to life in prison without parole in 2015 and was released by Trump shortly after he was sworn in in 2025. For Bankman-Fried, whose conviction stemmed from one of the largest financial collapses in cryptocurrency history, the public’s alignment with the president may have served a clear purpose.
His expansion comes as the remnants of his former empire are crumbling. Earlier this week, the FTX Recovery Trust said it would distribute approximately $2.2 billion to creditors as part of the ongoing Chapter 11 process, pushing recovery rates closer to full repayment for many claim classes.
Still, the damage from the FTX debacle is deep. Millions of customers lost access to their funds in 2022, an incident that shook trust in the cryptocurrency market. Prices fall, businesses fail, and regulators step in with greater scrutiny. The case remains a reference point for industry risks.
Bankman-Fried praised Trump’s Iran policy as the decision faces growing criticism, with some warning the conflict could put pressure on public finances and disrupt global oil supplies, as well as concerns about inflation and rising costs for households and businesses.
For now, Bankman-Fried remains behind bars, communicating through intermediaries while his former company repays creditors. His attorneys filed a motion for a new trial in February, but the government opposed it. However, his public messaging suggests he is trying to shape the outcome outside the courtroom.
